Study of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality Parameters of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Pusa Desi

Effect of Inorganic Fertilizers and Organic Manures on Growth, Yield and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26 at the Experimental Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, India, to evaluate the effects of inorganic fertilisers, organic manures, zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄), and Azotobacter on the growth, yield, and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) comprising twelve treatments with three replications. The treatments consisted of different combinations of the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF), farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, poultry manure, ZnSO₄, and Azotobacter. The results revealed that integrated nutrient management significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved plant height, leaf area index, tiller density, dry matter accumulation, grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, and economic returns compared with the control. Among the treatments, 75% RDF + 1.25 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost + 20 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹ + 5 kg Azotobacter ha⁻¹ (T₁₁) recorded the highest grain yield of 4856.40 kg ha⁻¹ and 4912.00 kg ha⁻¹ during 2024–25 and 2025–26, respectively. The same treatment also produced the highest net returns of ₹70,493 ha⁻¹ and ₹72,546 ha⁻¹ during the respective years. These findings indicate that the integrated application of 75% RDF, vermicompost, ZnSO₄, and Azotobacter can effectively enhance wheat productivity and profitability while reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers under the agro-climatic conditions of Punjab, India.

Influence of Organic Nutrient Sources and Seed Inoculation Practices on Growth, Productivity and Profitability of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]

A field experiment entitled Effect of Organic Manures, Rhizobium and Bijamrit on Growth and Yield of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]” was conducted at the Dr. B.R.C. Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, during Kharif 2024 on a loamy sand soil. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with twelve treatment combinations replicated three times. The treatments comprised four organic manures, viz., FYM @ 6 t ha⁻¹, vermicompost @ 2 t ha⁻¹, poultry manure @ 0.75 t ha⁻¹, and Jivamrit @ 500 L ha⁻¹ (soil application) + 10% foliar spray at 30 DAS, along with three seed treatments, viz., Bijamrit @ 200 ml kg⁻¹ seed, Rhizobium @ 25 ml kg⁻¹ seed, and Bijamrit + Rhizobium. The results revealed that nutrient management through organic sources significantly influenced the growth and yield attributes of mungbean. Application of poultry manure @ 0.75 t ha⁻¹ significantly increased plant height, dry matter accumulation, branches per plant, pods per plant, grains per pod, grain yield, stover yield, and biological yield over the other organic manures; however, it remained statistically at par with vermicompost @ 2 t ha⁻¹. Similar trends were observed for seed protein content, available soil N, P, and K at harvest, and microbial population at harvest. The highest benefit-cost ratio (4.1) was recorded with poultry manure. Among the seed treatments, the combined application of Bijamrit @ 200 ml kg⁻¹ seed and Rhizobium @ 25 ml kg⁻¹ seed recorded the highest growth and yield attributes and was found statistically at par with Rhizobium @ 25 ml kg⁻¹ seed alone. The highest benefit-cost ratio (3.4) was also recorded under the combined application of Bijamrit and Rhizobium. The study concluded that the application of poultry manure @ 0.75 t ha⁻¹ along with seed treatment of Bijamrit @ 200 ml kg⁻¹ seed + Rhizobium @ 25 ml kg⁻¹ seed significantly enhanced mungbean yield and economic returns.

Assessment of Different Nutrient Sources on Production and Profitability of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Khairahani, Chitwan

Although nutrient management plays a crucial role in determining the productivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), comparative information on the effectiveness of organic and inorganic nutrient sources under local conditions is still scarce. A field experiment was conducted during the 2024, Rabi season at Khairahani, Chitwan, to evaluate the effects of different nutrient sources on growth, yield, and profitability of barley var. Mustangey Jau. Using a randomized complete block design with five treatments-controls, chemical fertilizer NPK, poultry manure, farmyard manure, and vermicompost-each replicated four times, significant differences were observed in plant height, leaf area index, effective tillers, and grain yield. NPK fertilizer produced the highest plant height (94.80 cm), leaf area index (0.18), effective tillers (6.52), and grain yield (1.69 t/ha), followed by poultry manure and vermicompost. Organic sources improved growth over the control but yielded less than NPK. Economic analysis showed NPK achieved the highest net return and benefit-cost ratio (2.19), followed by poultry manure (1.34). Therefore, the application of recommended NPK fertilizer is suggested for maximizing barley yield and profitability, while poultry manure can be considered as a suitable organic alternative for improving productivity compared with other organic sources.

Synergistic Organic-inorganic Nutrient Management Enhances Fruit Quality Attributes of Tomato cv. Kashi Aman

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025-26 at the Horticultural Experiment Field, Department of Horticulture, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effects of integrated organic and inorganic nutrient management on selected fruit quality attributes of tomato cv. Kashi Aman. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with three replications and ten treatments comprising different combinations of farmyard manure, vermicompost, and recommended doses of inorganic fertilisers. The treatments included an absolute control, individual organic sources, the full recommended dose of fertiliser, and different integrated nutrient combinations. Fruit quality parameters, including total soluble solids, lycopene content, ascorbic acid content, and fruit pH, were recorded and statistically analysed. The results showed that integrated nutrient application influenced the quality attributes of tomato fruits. Among the treatments, T9, consisting of vermicompost at 3 t/ha, farmyard manure at 6.25 t/ha, and 25% of the recommended dose of fertiliser, recorded the highest total soluble solids (5.12 °Brix), lycopene content (2.31 mg/100 g), and ascorbic acid content (19.06 mg/100 g). The same treatment also recorded the lowest fruit pH (4.04). The absolute control recorded comparatively lower values for total soluble solids, lycopene content, and ascorbic acid content. These findings indicate that combining organic manures with a reduced level of inorganic fertiliser may improve selected quality attributes of tomato cv. Kashi Aman under the conditions of the present study.

Influence of Phosphorus Levels and Organic Manures on Growth and Yield of Black Gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2025 at the Crop Research Centre, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, to study the effect of phosphorus levels and organic manures on the growth, physiological indices and yield of black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatments comprised three phosphorus levels (40, 50 and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) and three organic manure sources, namely farmyard manure (FYM) at 5 t ha⁻¹, vermicompost at 2 t ha⁻¹ and poultry manure at 1.5 t ha⁻¹, along with an absolute control. Phosphorus application significantly improved growth, nodulation, dry matter accumulation, physiological growth indices and yield. The highest plant height (52.90 cm), number of branches plant⁻¹ (7.36), leaf area index (3.62), root nodules plant⁻¹ (27.20), dry matter accumulation at harvest (439.34 g m⁻²), crop growth rate (6.43 g m⁻² day⁻¹ during 40–60 DAS), grain yield (1412 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (3130 kg ha⁻¹) were recorded with 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Among organic manures, vermicompost at 2 t ha⁻¹ produced the highest grain yield (1422 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (3045 kg ha⁻¹). The application of 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ with vermicompost at 2 t ha⁻¹ may improve the productivity of black gram under the conditions of the present study.

Response of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients On Growth, Flowering and Yield of Strawberry (Fragaria×Ananassa Duch) Cv. ‘Winter Dawn’